40 Odd Things I've Learned In 40 Odd Years

Celebrate your inner quirkiness! Don't apologize for who you are. People respect authenticity and it's OK if you're an acquired taste.

Dream big and live every day as if it is your last. Don't postpone joy or bother with regrets.

When thinking about having a child, buying a home or going on a dream vacation, it will never seem like it's the right time or you have enough money. You just have to take the leap and do it!

Find activities you enjoy doing with your partner. It will get you through tough times, not in the mood times, postpartum times and more.

Your friends can be your family. My friends certainly are.

Don't let people walk all over you. It doesn't matter who they are. If someone isn't kind to you, draw a line in the sand. Certain behaviors are simply not acceptable.

Get rid of toxic people in your life. Even if they are family.

If you don't like where you live, stop complaining and MOVE.

You cannot say "I love you" too much with your loved ones.

Learn from your mistakes. Don't be a repeat offender.

As important as it is to be appreciated, it is more important to show your appreciation for others.

Sometime you have money, sometimes you don't. It comes and goes. Find happiness regardless of your finances.

Choose your battles carefully and infrequently. There is usually room to compromise, and it's OK to let others "win" for the sake of peace.

We are too quick to judge and never quick enough to pay a compliment. Be generous with your praise and gratitude.

Feeding others a good meal can feed your soul. Learn to cook at least a few dishes really well.

Delivery is critical. Be mindful of how you come across to others. It is not just about what you intend to say, but how you say it.

Being honest is sometimes hard, but it never has a truly negative consequence.

Talk less and listen more.

Don't expect people to read your mind. TELL them what you are thinking and feeling. Communication is so much easier when you take the guesswork out of it.

I will never be a workaholic again. Working 80-hour weeks and surviving on coffee and cigarettes made me sick and bedridden for two years. Work is not worth sacrificing your health.

Be there for your loved ones in good times and bad. Make the effort to travel to weddings, funerals and births. Big life events require big live hugs.

Learning to ask for help is difficult but necessary. Let others help you. (But don't become helpless!)

It is OK to have a bad day once in a while. But you hold the power to have more good days than bad. Happiness is a choice.

Getting a haircut, mani/pedi or massage can change your mood. Be good to yourself.

You don't have to like everyone all of the time. Don't beat yourself up over it.

Be forgiving. It's almost never easy, but you will feel relieved when you do it.

Help others less fortunate than yourself.

Find the time to email, text, write and call people who are important to you with a quick message like "Thinking of you. Hope you are doing well." Everyone likes to know they are being thought of from time to time.

Never give up hope. I met my husband at 37 and gave birth to my son the next year. Absolutely worth the wait.

You cannot change others. You can only change yourself.

Don't be scared to try new things. Learn a new skill, eat an exotic food, make new friends and get out of your comfort zone.

Become a part of your local community.

There is a time and a place for pain medication.

Take lots of pictures. Share them with loved ones often.

Be coachable. And be honored if you are in a position to coach someone else.

Don't judge someone on a first impression. They might be having a bad day. Give them another chance. Or two.

Your past shapes you but doesn't define you.

Laugh and smile often. It will make you and everyone around you feel better.

Good health is the foundation for everything in life. Don't take it for granted. Make it a priority before it's too late.

The only things truly worth being upset about are sickness and loss. Most of your worries won't seem so big by comparison.

We plan, God laughs. Once you acknowledge you're not in control, it's easier to adapt.